Archived press release

Test Drive The "Virtual Car" With 'Java'

7 June 1996

On the first day of Green Transport Week [1], Friends of the Earth today launched the "Virtual Car", the latest addition to its World Wide Web site [2].

The "Virtual Car" is a fun, interactive guide to the environmental impacts of motoring designed in 'Java' software [3].

Sound the horn and it beeps. Pat the dog and it barks. Turn on the radio and tune in to the traffic report.

You can sit at the wheel, open the bonnet or look in the boot. Everywhere you look the impacts of motoring spring out - from the alarming increase of road rage to the growth of asthma.

Roger Higman, Senior Transport Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

"The world-wide growth in car use is an environmental nightmare. Our 'Virtual Car' explains the problems and points out what you can do to cut traffic growth"

Once you have seen the " Virtual Car" why not sign our on-line pledge to " Curb the Car" two days a week?[4]

The "Virtual Car" is available at /car

NOTES FOR EDITORS

[1] Green Transport Week is a national week of action aiming to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of the way we travel and the need for alternatives. It lasts from Friday 7th June to Sunday 16th June.

[2] Friends of the Earth is the largest international network of environmental groups in the world, represented in 52 countries world-wide. Friends of the Earth (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) is one of the UK's most influential national environmental pressure groups with a network of over 250 local groups. Its World Wide Web site was launched in May 1994, making Friends of the Earth the first environmental campaigning group with a presence on the Internet.

[3] Java is the new programming language for the Internet, produced by Sun Microsystems. Internet browsers which support 'Java' can explore the "Virtual Car" in its entirety - with sound, vision and animation

An imagemap of the 'Virtual Car' is also available for browsers which do not support 'Java'.

[4] The on-line pledge is at /car/pledge.html

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust